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Thales Alenia Space, joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%) signed a contract with Inmarsat, the world’s leading provider of global mobile satellite communications for the construction of its new communication Global Xpress (GX) satellite. The value of the contract to construct the satellite will be approximately $130 million over the three years 2017 to 2019.
The satellite, which is targeted for launch in 2019, will be a Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS), providing capacity across the Middle East, Europe and the Indian subcontinent. The payload will seamlessly become part of Inmarsat’s existing GX high-speed global broadband network. The combination of latest satellite technology and a focus on areas of high demand, which will drive high capacity utilisation, will together result in a very low cost per bit delivered. This new satellite will be based on the flight proven Spacebus B2 enhanced platform and will be fitted with 72 Ka-band beams. With a specified design life of 16 years, it will weigh less than 4 metric tons at launch and will offer payload power of about 6.8 kW.
Inmarsat’s decision to construct this GX satellite has been taken following the recent announcement by Qatar Airways to adopt GX Aviation for its In Flight Connectivity (IFC) requirements, taken together with other recent important airline IFC wins in the EMEA region, such as the Deutsche Lufthansa Group and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Inmarsat’s GX service, delivered over the Ka-band spectrum, is uniquely designed and optimised for mobility services.
“Thales Alenia Space is proud to partner with Inmarsat to create an advanced satellite, which will provide additional capacity to support growing demand for aviation passenger Wi-Fi services across the EMEA and Indian subcontinent. The global, mobile broadband satellite network operated by Inmarsat incorporates satellites with the latest very high throughput satellite technology. With this new satellite, Inmarsat will broaden its footprint, deliver significant resources for broadband services and set a new benchmark for flexibility in high throughput satellites”, said Bertrand Maureau, Vice President Telecommunication Business Line.
About Thales Alenia Space
Thales Alenia Space (thalesaleniaspace.com) brings over 40 years of experience to the design, integration, testing and operation of innovative space systems for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ “Space Alliance”, which offers a complete range of services and solutions. Thales Alenia Space has built up unrivaled expertise in dual (civil-military) missions, constellations, flexible high-throughput payloads, altimetry, meteorology, and high-resolution radar and optical observation. The company capitalizes on its strong legacy, while also making innovation a key to its strategy. By offering a continuous stream of new products and expanding its global footprint, Thales Alenia Space has established its leadership in today’s fast-evolving space sector. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of about 2.4 billion euros in 2016 and has 7,980 employees in nine countries. thalesaleniaspace.com
Thales Alenia Space Press Contact: Chrystelle Dugimont
P: +33(0)4 92 92 74 06 - E: chrystelle.dugimont[.]thalesaleniaspace.com.
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sandrine.bielecki[.]thalesaleniaspace.com 
